SALT LAKE CITY — Only one word comes to mind when you think of Utah's offense over the past several years — inconsistent, not only for the on-field results, but the people on the sidelines wearing the headsets as well.

As the Utes prepare with yet another offensive coordinator for their upcoming 2014 campaign, they will be doing so without someone who has been in the Utah program all but one season since 2004.

Reports indicated late last week that Utah quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson will be leaving the Utes to take his coaching talents to Mississippi State.

SALT LAKE CITY — The 2013 college football season just ended with the national championship game last Monday, but fans are already optimistically looking forward to what 2014 might bring for their favorite team.

Winter workouts are already underway for most teams, with spring football practices right around the corner.

How will the Utes fare in 2014? Only time will tell, but even the most optimistic fan has to be a little concerned when looking at the 2014 football schedule released Wednesday afternoon.

SALT LAKE CITY — University of Utah starting quarterback Travis Wilson will miss the remainder of the season after doctors discovered a season-ending pre-existing health condition.

Wilson missed Saturday's game against Oregon after sustaining a concussion during the Arizona State game. Wilson had tests performed last week where doctors said he would miss the season after discovering a pre-existing condition.

"Through the concussion diagnosis process a preexisting problem was discovered," Whittingham said. "They proceeded to give him an angiogram to take a closer look. At that point they discovered there was a preexisting problem that needed to be addressed and continue to be monitored."

This week on the show we recap Utah's 19-3 loss to USC, look ahead to Friday's Runnin' Utes season opener and special guest Jamie Whittingham, wife of current football head coach Kyle Whittingham, joins us to give us insight into the program.

Every week we here at the Crimson Corner are teaming up with the UteSportsReport.com staff to bring you the UTEcast, a podcast focusing on everything Utes.

SALT LAKE CITY — After two disappointing outings, it may seem like Utah's big 27-21 win over the then No. 5 Stanford Cardinal was seasons ago, not just a few weeks.

UTEcast 10-26: Reaction to Utes' 19-3 loss to USC

The problem for the Utes in two road losses isn't that difficult to diagnose, as they have managed season low offensive outputs for two consecutive weeks — 329 total yards against Arizona, then an even lower 201 yards against USC.

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utes face another tough test this week as they look to put a disappointing loss to Arizona behind them, heading south to USC to take on the storied Trojan football program.

The last two weeks couldn't have been more of a roller coaster for the Utes, defeating the then No. 5 Stanford Cardinal two weeks ago, only to fall the next week to Arizona.

"We got off to a slow start in our game against Arizona, and although we played much better in the second half, it wasn't enough to pull out the victory," Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said. "We are facing one of the most
storied programs in the country this Saturday in USC and we fully anticipate that our players will bounce back and be ready to play the full 60 minutes vs. the Trojans."

SALT LAKE CITY — After losing their first two conference games of 2013, reality was beginning to set in for the Utes. Utah had started its initial two seasons in the Pac-12 at 0-4 in conference play, and with a No. 5 team rolling into Salt Lake City, that was a trend that seemed almost certain to continue in year three.

Sure, the Utes had been competitive in most conference games, but seemed to lack that final push to get over the hump. The few Pac-12 wins the Utes did get were all against teams with losing records. Possibly the best conference victory Utah could claim was a 31-6 win over UCLA in year 1. The Bruins represented the Pac-12 South in the conference title game, but got crushed by Oregon and lost their bowl game to finish 6-8.

The Utes had lacked that signature win over one of the top tier members of the conference — a win that could propel their success going forward.

Every week we here at the Crimson Corner are teaming up with the UteSportsReport.com staff to bring you the UTEcast, a podcast focusing on everything Utes.

Kyle Whittingham picked up his 75th career victory as the Utes upset the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal 27-21 in Rice-Eccles Stadium. Utah recorded its first win over a ranked conference opponent since joining the Pac-12 in 2011, improving to 1-4.

SALT LAKE CITY — While there are no such things as moral victories, there are a lot of positives to build on from the Utes' first two conference losses.

"I think we're knocking at the door," Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said during Monday's press conference. "We've got to make a few more plays -- that's the short version. When you're close like that, it usually comes down to a play or two or three plays that's the difference, which has been the case in those two games. The opponents have made those plays, and we haven't. We've got to find a way to make those plays."

Unfortunately for the Utes, the task to create those few plays that could change the outcome of the game gets even more difficult as No. 5 Stanford comes into Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday.

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